The Number of
Individuals in the Godhead

Is God One "Person"
or Three ("Jesus Only" or "Trinity")?

All who claim to be Christians
agree there is only one true God. But how many individuals,
"persons," or beings make up the Godhead? Does Deity
consist of just one individual Being ("Jesus only"), or are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit three separate spirit
beings, all possessing Deity? Is God a "Trinity"? Should we be
baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or is baptism in the
name of Jesus only?

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Introduction:

The Bible repeatedly teaches that there is only one
true God, in contrast to the many warring, conflicting, different
gods of heathen idolatry (Deut. 4:35,39; 6:4; 32:39; Psa. 86:10;
Isa. 43:10-13; 44:6-8; 45:5,6,21-23; Matt. 4:10; Mark 12:29).

However, the Bible also mentions three individuals, "persons,"
or spirit beings, each of whom is called "God," or
other such terms used for God.

Some people conclude that "one God" means God is
just one individual or personal being. Hence, they conclude that
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all the same individual or
personal being. It is argued that these are just different titles
used to refer to the one individual, or that the different terms
refer to different parts of the one individual ("Son" =
the fleshly body, "Father" = the Divine Spirit that
inhabited the body, etc.). This one individual is named Jesus, so
the position is often called "Jesus only."

It is the purpose of this study to show by the
Scriptures that the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are not the
same individual or personal being, but are three separate and
distinct living personal beings or individuals.

To illustrate what we mean by separate and distinct beings or
individuals, consider the various living intelligent beings that
exist:

* Humans are intelligent beings or individuals (before death a
human consists of a spirit inhabiting a physical body, but at
death the spirit departs from the body) - Gen. 1:26,27; 2:7;
James 2:26; etc.

The Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are separate
& distinct from one another as individual beings like
these various other intelligent beings are separate and distinct
from one another. We do not claim the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are physical beings, like humans, though Jesus did have a
body on earth. Nor do we claim they are like these other beings
in character, authority, etc. We simply say that these other
living beings illustrate the concept of separate and distinct
individuals or personal beings. The Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are each an individual, distinct from one another like
angels are distinct from one another, etc.

So, the Father is not the same individual being as the Son,
the Son is not the same being as the Spirit, etc. However, each
possesses all the characteristics and privileges of Deity, so
each is part of the Godhead. The one true God, then consists of
three separate and distinct individual divine beings.

We do not claim we understand all about God, nor can we answer
all questions that can be raised about the subject of the number
of individuals in the Godhead. Some things are simply not
revealed; limited, finite humans simply cannot understand all
about the infinite, unlimited God (Deut. 29:29; Job 26:14; 36:26;
37:5,23; Isa. 55:8,9). However, the Bible does reveal enough that
it definitely teaches, by necessary implication, that there are
three separate and distinct individuals in the Godhead.

I. Evidence for Three Separate and Distinct
Individuals in the Godhead

A. Evidence that the Father and the Son Are
Distinct Individuals

A Father and His Son Must Be Separate Individuals

Consider the following references:

Hebrews 1:5 - I shall be to Him a Father
and He shall be to Me a Son.

Matthew 3:17 - This is My beloved Son.

Matthew 16:16,17 - Thou art the Son
of God My Father in heaven revealed this.

Matthew 17:5 - This is My beloved Son
(spoken by God the Father - 2 Pet. 1:16-18).

John 3:16 - God gave His only-begotten
Son.

John 5:17 - My Father has been working, and I
work.

Romans 15:6 - Glorify God, even the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3 - Blessed be God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 - Have fellowship with the Father and
with His Son Jesus Christ.

2 John 3 - Grace from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ the Son of the Father.

2 John 9 - Abide in the teaching and have both the
Father and the Son.

A father and his son are necessarily two separate and distinct
individuals. A single individual can be both a father and a son
at the same time - a father to one person and a son to another
person. But no one can be the same person as his own son,
and no person can be the same individual as his own father!

If Jesus and His Father are the same individual, as some
claim, then Jesus is both His own Father and His own Son!

Further, the passages describe both an "I" and a
"He" (or "me" and "him"). Use of
both these terms also necessarily implies plurality of
individuals.

And further note that 2 John 9 expressly mentions "both"
the Father and the Son. The Father and the Son are a
"both" - two individuals.

Further, 1 John 1:3 and 2 John 3 clearly show that Jesus
is the Son, as distinguished by the language from
the Father. The Father is never called Jesus in the
Bible.

The Father Prepared a Body for the Son - Hebrews 10:5

When Jesus came into the world, He said, "a body
didst Thou prepare Me" - Hebrews
10:5. "Thou" = God the Father (v7). "Me" =
Jesus the Son (v10). The "body" = the body in which
Jesus came into the world (v5,10).

Again, "thou" and "me" necessarily refer
to a plurality of individuals. Jesus was the "me," not
the "thou" (the Father).

And Jesus is not just the "body." The body was prepared
for the "Me" (Jesus). Here are two separate and
distinct individuals discussing the body. Did the Spirit that
inhabited the body prepare the body for the body? Is Jesus
talking to Himself, saying You (Jesus) prepared this body for me
(Jesus)?

Judgment Given by the Father to the Son - John 5:22

The Father does not judge any man, but has given all judgment
to the Son. If the Father and Son are the same individual, then
when Jesus judges someone, the Father IS judging them. But the
Son judges and the Father does not judge. Therefore, they must be
separate individuals.

Jesus Prayed to the Father - John 17:1-26 (Matthew 26:39;
John 11:41)

Jesus lifted His eyes to Heaven and prayed to the Father (v1).
He said, "I have glorified Thee I have
finished the work Thou gavest Me to
do" (v4). I and Thee = plural individuals. But
if the Father and Son are the same individual, then Jesus prayed
to Himself!

Jesus Was WITH the Father before the World Began - John 1:1-3,14;
17:5,24

The "Word" (1:1) is the only begotten Son of the
Father (1:14,18). He was in the beginning with God
and was God (v1). He (Jesus) said "Father,
glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory
I had with Thee before the world was" (17:5).
Further, the Father loved the Son before the foundation of
the world (17:24).

Even before Jesus had a fleshly body on earth, there was a
Father (thou or thee) who was His own self -
one individual. Sharing glory with Him was Me
or I (Jesus) - a second individual who was with the
Father and was loved by the Father before the world began.

Thou and Me implies separate
individuals. The Father was His own self, but Jesus
was with Him. All this was before there ever was
any fleshly body. Was Jesus with Himself before the
world began? Did He love Himself and share glory
with Himself??

Jesus Sent His Disciples as the Father Sent Him - John 17:18;
20:20,21

As the Father sent Jesus, even so Jesus
sent His disciples. Does a person send himself
elsewhere? When Jesus sent His disciples, He was one individual
sending other separate individuals to do a job for
Him (cf. John 1:6). Even so, when the Father sent
the Son, the Father was one individual sending another individual
to do a job.

Note again that a Father and His Son are two distinct
individuals. And Thou and Me are
separate individuals.

The Son Is on the Father's Right Hand - Ephesians 1:17,20

The Father raised Jesus from the dead and made Him sit at His
right hand. Clearly this describes a relationship between two
separate individuals. If Jesus and the Father are the same
individual, then Jesus is sitting at His own right hand! (See
also Acts 2:33; 7:55,56; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; 1 Pet. 3:22.)

Jesus and the Father Had Independent Wills - Matthew 26:39

Jesus prayed, "not My will but Thine be
done." My will and Thy will make two distinct
minds each capable of making its own decisions. The Father's will
and the Son's will agree and are united, but each has individual
power to choose and to will. Each has His own mind and
intelligence separate from the other.

Two distinct wills necessarily imply two distinct intelligent
beings.

The Father and the Son Make TWO Witnesses - John 8:13,16-18,29

Jews accused Jesus of testifying of Him self (v13).
Jesus said the law required two witnesses (v17; cf.
Deut. 19:15). He claimed He was not alone because
there was "I and the Father that sent me"
(v16). Further, I am one that bears witness of Myself
and the Father bears witness of Me (v18).
This fulfills the requirements for two witnesses (v17).
So, He that sent me is with Me; He left
Me not alone (v29).

Again, I and My Father make a plurality of
individuals. If Jesus and the Father were the same individual,
then Jesus would be alone and would have only one
witness. But Jesus said He was not alone and He and
His Father fulfilled the requirement of two
witnesses. This can only be true if they constitute two separate
and distinct individuals.

Jesus and His Father are "WE" - John 14:23; 17:20-23

Jesus ("me") and "my Father" love those
who obey. "We" will come and dwell with
them (14:23). The Father and Son are an "Us"
and a "We" (17:21,22). How can "we"
and "us" be one individual?

Jesus Had a Spirit Separate & Distinct from that of
His Father - Matthew 27:46,50; Luke 23:46

When Jesus was on the cross, the Father forsook
Him (Matt. 27:46). Clearly the Father's spirit was no longer with
Jesus. Yet Jesus continued to live awhile, having His own
spirit which then departed when He died (v50). When He
died, He commended His spirit into His
Father's hands (Luke 23:46). So Jesus had His own Spirit
separate from His Father's spirit. Or did Jesus commend His own
Spirit into the hands of His own Spirit, and then give up His
spirit?

Death is the spirit of a person leaving his body and returning
to God (James 2:26; Ecc. 12:7; Acts 7:59). Just like any man,
Jesus had His own spirit separate from the spirit of His Father.
Jesus' spirit remained in His body even after the Father forsook
Him, then it left when Jesus died.

The fact a man has his own spirit, separate from the spirit of
other beings, is what makes him a separate individual. Since
Jesus had his own spirit separate from the Father's spirit, He
must have been a separate and distinct individual from His Father.

Note again that there is a Thy and a Me,
each of whom had his own spirit. Clearly this is two separate
individuals.

Jesus & His Father Are One as His Disciples Are One -
John 17:20-23

Jesus and His Father are one even as He wants
His disciples to be one. How are disciples to be "one"?
Do we all become one and the same individual - one
living being? No, we remain separate individuals, but we are one
in purpose, faith, goals, character, doctrine, practice, etc. (1
Cor. 1:10-13; 12:12-20, 2527; Eph. 4:1-4; etc.)

The Father and Son are described as Thou and Me, I and
Thee, clearly identifying separate individuals. They are
also called We (v22) - plural
individuals.

And they are one even as the disciples are to be
one - not one individual. If the Father and Son are
one individual, then to please Jesus all His disciples must
become one individual - an impossibility! But if we are not all
one individual, but the Father and Son are one even as we
are one, then the Father and Son cannot be one individual.

B. Passages that Demonstrate 3 Beings (or a
Plurality of Beings) in the Godhead

Plural Pronouns Used for God at Creation - Genesis 1:26; (3:22).

God said let Us make man in Our
image after Our likeness. Man was created in God's
image, not the image of angels or animals (cf. v27). Yet God is
referred to as Us and Our - terms
implying plural individuals. (Similar instances exist in Gen. 3:22;
11:6,7; Isa. 6:8). In fact the most common Hebrew word for God (ELOHIM)
is plural in form.

Other verses show that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all
three present at creation. The Father was present (Heb. 1:2; John
1:1-3; 17:5,24), the Son was present (Heb. 1:2; John 1:1-3; 17:5,24;
Col. 1:16,17), and the Holy Spirit was present (Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4).

We have already shown that the Father and Son are a We
or Us (John 14:23; 17:22). Clearly the one God does
include a plurality of individuals.

All Three Were Present at Jesus' Baptism - Luke 3:21,22

Jesus was on earth, having been baptized, and He
was praying. The Holy Spirit descended in a bodily
form like a dove (this does not say the Spirit is a dove, but at
that time took a bodily form like a dove). A voice from heaven
said, "Thou art My beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased."

This voice was clearly the Heavenly Father because He said
Jesus was His Son. A similar thing happened at the
transfiguration (Matt. 17:5), and Peter said the voice was God
the Father who spoke (2 Pet. 1:16-18). The voice of God comes
from God and demonstrates His presence (Gen. 3:8). The very words
spoken prove the speaker is not Jesus, because Thou
and I refer to separate individuals. And a son
cannot be the same person as his father.

So in this story all 3 are present and are presented as being
3 separate individuals.

The Father and Son Sent the Holy Spirit - John 14:16,26;
15:26; 16:7,13-15

When Jesus left the earth, He requested that the Father send
the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles, remind them of Jesus'
teachings, etc. These verses distinguish all three as separate
individuals.

The pronouns used distinguish individuals - I
and He, etc. The language implies these are
different individuals, just as surely as Jesus meant He and the
apostles were different individuals when He referred to them as I
and You.

The Father and Son acted together in sending the Spirit (i.e.,
the Son requested the Father to do it and He did do it - 14:16,26;
15:26; 16:7). As when Jesus sent His disciples and when the
Father sent the Son, so the language implies individuals sending
another individual, not themselves (cf. notes on John 17:18; 20:20,21).
Jesus did not send Himself and the Father did not send Himself.
The Holy Spirit was a separate individual.

The Holy Spirit would be another comforter (Greek
for another is ALLOS meaning another one of the same sort). Jesus
had been a source of strength & comfort, an advocate on
behalf of the disciples. Now He was leaving, but did not want the
disciples left alone. So He sent another comforter
who would teach the disciples and remind them of Jesus' teaching
(14:26; 16:13-15). If the Spirit is the same person as Jesus,
then Jesus did not send another comforter, but the same
one.

The Holy Spirit would not speak from Himself (His
own initiative), but would speak what the Father and Son provided
for Him to declare (16:13-15). This distinguishes both the Father
and Son from the Spirit - they must be different "selves."
If the Father or the Son are the same "self" as the
Spirit, then He would be speaking from Himself.

All Three Are Listed in Ephesians 4:4-6

This passages mentions seven things of which there is only one
each in God's plan for unity: one body (the church - 1:22,23);
one Spirit (the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:3-13; Luke 4:1);
one hope; one Lord (Jesus - 1 Cor. 8:6); one faith; one baptism;
one God and Father.

Note that each item listed is separate and distinct from each
other item. The body is not the hope. The baptism is not the Lord.
The faith is not the Father, etc. Likewise, the Father is not the
Spirit, the Spirit is not the Lord, and the Lord is not the
Father.

It follows that this passage is distinguishing the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit as three separate and distinct individuals.

Baptism in the Name of the Three - Matthew 28:19

The apostles were commanded to baptize in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. On the basis of the material we
have studied, it is clear that the Father and Son are two
separate individuals. Surely then the term "Holy Spirit"
also refers to a living being who is a separate individual from
the other two. Why list two separate beings and then list a third
term which is just another title for one of the others, or just a
part of the others, etc.?

Other Verses that Mention Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
All Three

2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18 - Through Him (Christ) we have access by one Spirit
unto the Father.

1 Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God
the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit,
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:11 - Justified in the name of our Lord
Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Verses that Distinguish Jesus from the Holy Spirit

Matthew 12:31,32 - Blasphemy against the Son would be
forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would not be.
Hence the Son is not the Holy Spirit, for if He were, then to
blaspheme the Spirit would be the same as blaspheming the Son.

John 14:17,19 - The world did not behold the Spirit, but it
did behold the Son. Hence, Jesus is not the Spirit.

Matthew 1:18 - The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus is the womb of
Mary. Did the Spirit conceive Himself, or did He conceive a
separate individual?

Conclusion

The Bible definitely teaches that there is only one true God.
But we have also seen from the Scriptures that there are three
separate and distinct individuals or living personal beings that
possess Deity and are therefore in the Godhead. If the passages
we have studied do not establish the plurality of individuals in
the Godhead, then what is the point of these statements? Why
would God make such statements if in fact there is only one
individual in God?

John 17:20-23 explains the sense in which these three
individuals are ONE (see previous notes). They are one even as
all true believers should be one - not one individual, but united
and harmonious in faith, doctrine, character, purpose, etc.

II. Evidence Offered to Show There Is Just One
Individual in the Godhead

People who believe that there is only one individual or living
personal being in the Godhead ("Jesus only") also offer
evidence for their view. We will consider just a few of the main
arguments, so it will become clear how they can be answered.

References are cited to show there is one
God, and singular pronouns are used to refer to God - Deut. 6:4;
Isa. 43:10-13; 44:6,8,24 (God is "alone, and formed the
earth "by myself"); 45:5,22; 52:6; Zech. 14:9; Matt. 4:10;
Mk. 12:29; Eph. 4:4 cf. Rom. 8:9 (one Spirit must be Jesus'
spirit); James 2:19.

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one. 1 John 5:7 - Father,
Word, and Spirit are one (KJV). So it is concluded that there can
only be one individual in the Godhead, and that individual is
Jesus. The Father and the Spirit are just different titles or
different parts of that individual, etc. However:

* We agree there is one God, and we agree Jesus is called God
because He possesses Deity. But we have seen that the Father and
Holy Spirit are also called God because they possess Deity. The
question is: HOW is God "one" - in what sense?
Is it one individual, or is there some other sense in which three
individuals could be "one"?

* The word "God" does not necessarily mean an
individual, such that "one God" is equivalent to one
individual.God is the Creator and Ruler of the
universe, Deity, whatever is worshiped. God is one, but not
necessarily one individual.

* We have shown evidence that the Father, Son, and
Spirit are separate individuals, yet one God. To say
there is one God does not disprove our position because it does
not prove God is only one individual living Being.

* John 17:20-23 explains HOW the Father and Son are ONE
- even as believers should be one.We are not
one individual, but many different individuals. We are united as
one body, one church, united in faith, practice, goals,
character, etc. The inspired comparison is that there is one
God or Godhead that consists of plural members, just as
there is one church that consists of many members (Acts
4:32; Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; 12:12-27; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 1:22,23;
2:14,16; 4:1-6,16; Phil. 1:27; 2:2; etc.)

* Another illustration is Gen. 2:24 - the two become
one.A man and his wife are two separate
individuals, but in marriage they are united. Yet they remain
separate individuals. So God can be so united as to be called
"one," yet three separate individuals.

* We have cited many examples where the pronouns imply
plural individuals ("we," "us," "I and
Thou," "I am not alone," etc.).The
very passages on which this argument is based, themselves imply
plural individuals: "I and my Father" (an individual
and his father make two individuals); "these three
are one."

The instances of singular pronouns simply emphasize the one-ness
of God, while the plural pronouns point out the plural
individuals in that one God. This is completely legitimate
grammatically. Our position can explain both the singular
pronouns and the plural pronouns. But the "Jesus only"
view cannot explain the plural pronouns.

* Statements affirming the one-ness of God are intended
to contrast to the plural gods as in heathen idol worship, not to
deny there are a plurality of individuals in God.The
contexts are not discussing the relationship of Father and Son,
for example, but are contrasting the true God to the plurality of
different gods such as heathen idol worshipers embrace - gods
having different character, authority in different areas of life
or different areas of the earth, and often disagreeing and even
warring among themselves in their beliefs, purposes, teachings,
and their wills for men. We worship, not such gods as these, but
a united, harmonious God with one will and plan for us.

B. Father Is in the Son & Vice-Versa -
John 10:38; 14:10,11; 2 Cor. 5:19

It is affirmed that, since the Father is in the Son, this
explains how they are the same individual - the Father is the
Spirit that dwells in the Son's body.

However:

* Many other passages speak of separate persons being
"IN" one another.To say one is
"in" the other does not prove they are the same
individual. For example, Christians are "in Christ" and
"in the Father"; and Father and Son abide "in"
us - John 14:20,23; 15:4-7; 3:21; 6:56; Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 6:16;
Gal. 2:20; 3:26-38; Eph. 3:17; Phil. 1:1; 3:8,9; Col. 1:27; 1 Pet.
5:14; 1 John 2:6,24; 3:24; 4:12-16. Do these verses prove that we
are the same individual or personal being as the Son or the
Father?

* Again, John 17:20-23 explains the real meaning of the
expression.For Jesus to be "in the
Father," and vice-versa, simply means for them to be "one."
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father,
art in me, and I in Thee, that they
also may be one in Us ; that they may be one,
even as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that
they may be made perfect in one "

To say that one person is "in" another simply means
that they have fellowship and unity - a harmonious, united
relationship. It does not mean they are one individual.

C. Know Jesus, Know the Father; See Jesus, See
the Father (John 14:7,9; 12:45; 8:19); Have the Son, Have the
Father (1 John 2:23); When the Spirit Came, Jesus Came (John 14:16,28

It is argued that these expressions prove the Father, Son, and
Spirit are the same individual. However:

* We have already seen that the expressions used in the
very context of these passages show a plurality of individuals.
They use the terms "Father" and "Son" which
must refer to separate individuals. The Father and Son sent the
Spirit, etc. (See previous discussion.)

* No man has literally seen the Father - John 6:46; 1:18;
5:37; 1 John 4:12. So Jesus' expressions must be taken symbolically, not literally. What is the meaning of the
expression then?

* John 14:10,11 explains the meaning of 14:7,9 (and the
other expressions likewise).The disciples
"saw the Father" because Jesus was "in the Father
and the Father in" Jesus. The Father abiding in Jesus did
His works.

But this is the phrase we have just studied above. We showed
that the meaning of the expression is, not that they are the same
individual, but that they are in fellowship, unity, harmony. So
harmonious were their character and wills that, when Jesus
worked, the work He did was the Father's work.

* John 1:18 also explains. No one has
literally seen the Father, but the Son declared
Him. The Son is not the same individual as the Father, but He is
so like the Father and knows the Father so well that He is the
one best qualified to reveal what the Father is like. In fact,
the Father and Son are so alike that, when we know what Jesus is
like, we know exactly what the Father is like.

* Hebrews 1:3 - Jesus is the "express image"
of God's person. Colossians 1:15 - He is the image
of the invisible God. An image is not the same
thing as that which it is a likeness of (cf. Gen. 1:26,27). We
cannot literally see the Father when we see Jesus. But they are
so alike that, when you see Jesus, you have seen exactly what the
Father is like.

Compare this to our expressions: "Like father, like son."
"He's the exact image of his father." "When you've
seen one, you've seen 'em all."

* Other passages use this kind of representative
language.Separate individuals are involved,
but one is viewed as a representative of the other. So when we do
something to one person is taken to be the same as doing it to
the other person.

For example, Mark 9:37 - Whoever receives a child in Jesus'
name, receives Jesus. Likewise, whoever receives Jesus
receives the One who sent Him. This explains the
languages perfectly. Is Jesus the same individual as the child?
No, but the way we treat the child is taken as the way we treat
Jesus. So the way we treat Jesus is the way we treat the Father.
But Jesus' own illustration proves that Jesus is not the same
individual as the Father any more than the child is the same
individual as Jesus. If Jesus is the same individual as the
Father, then the child is also the same individual as Jesus!

Luke 10:16 - He who hears Jesus' messengers, hears Jesus; he
who despises the messengers, despises Jesus; and he who despises
Jesus, despises the one who sent Jesus. Again, by Jesus' own
authority, the language is exactly parallel to the verses we are
studying. How we treat the messengers is how we treat Jesus, just
the same as how we treat Jesus is how we treat the Father. But
are the messengers the same individual as Jesus? No, and no more
is Jesus the same individual as the Father. In fact, the
parallels in these verses proof the opposite of "Jesus only."
The language here proves Jesus is NOT the same individual as the
Father. (Cf. John 13:20).

Other examples are:

Matthew 25:40,45 - Doing good to others is the same as doing
good to Jesus.

Acts 9:1,4,5 - Persecuting the church is the same as
persecuting Jesus.

John 3:22; 4:1,2 - When the apostles baptized, it is said that
Jesus' baptized, because they acted as His representatives.

D. "In the Name of"

It is argued that God has one name (Zech. 14:9; cf. Isa. 52:6).
Jesus came in the Father's name (John 5:43; 10:25), and the
Spirit came in Jesus' name (John 14:26). So it is argued they
must all have the same name ("Jesus") and must
therefore all be the same individual. ("Father," "Son,"
and "Holy Spirit" are said to be "titles,"
not names). Other verses are added to show how important God's
name is.

Further, we are told we must baptize in the name of Jesus (Acts
2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; cf. 4:12; 2:21 - salvation in no other
name), and this is what must be said. Matt. 28:19 says to baptize in the
name (one name) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; but we are told
they
all have the same name, and that name is Jesus, so we must
baptize in the name of Jesus only.

However:

* Even if Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all did have the
same name, that would not prove they are the same individual.Often different individuals have the same name. My father
and I have the same name, but we are not the same individual. In
marriage, a woman takes her husband's name, but she is still a
separate individual.

In fact, however, these expressions do not mean the three do
have the same name, as we will see.

* One individual can act "in the name of"
another individual, yet they are still two distinct individuals.To say that one acts "in the name of" another does
not prove they have the same name, still less does it prove they
are the same individual. For example:

Inspired men gave commands in the name of the Lord - Acts 9:27,29;
2 Thess. 3:6; James 5:10.
Christians should assemble in Jesus' name - Matt. 18:20.
We can receive a child in Jesus' name - Mark 9:37.
Apostles did miracles in Jesus' name - Acts 3:6; 16:18.
The name of God would be called upon the Gentiles - Acts 15:17.

Note: if you baptize a person "in Jesus' name," does
that make YOU the same individual as Jesus is?

Everything we do, in word or deed, should be done in Jesus'
name - Col 3:17.

Clearly when a person acts "in the name of" another
person, that does not mean the first person has the same name the
other does, and even less does it prove they are the same
individual. In fact, the expression does not even mean we must say
"in Jesus' name" every time we so act.

* The expression "in the name of" actually
means "by the authority of," "on behalf of,"
etc.(Random House College Dictionary). It is
an expression showing that one individual is acting as the representative
of another, acting in accordance with his will and instructions,
by his authority. We have here another instance of two separate
individuals, but one represents or acts on behalf of the other,
just as in the previous expressions we have discussed.

* Other examples: "Stop, in the
name of the law," means the person commanding you is a
representative acting by authority of the law. Likewise, an
ambassador acts "in the name of" a country - by the
authority of that country, empowered by its laws, as its official
representative, acting on its behalf. When you sign a check, your
name is the symbol of your authorization for the bank to transfer
funds on your behalf, paying your money, acting in your name.

So Jesus came in His Father's name because the Father sent
Him, He was the Father's representative, acting on His behalf, to
do the Fathers' will. Likewise, the Spirit came in Jesus' name in
the same way. (See Scriptures about these matters listed
previously.)

* This also shows the harmony between Matt. 28:19 (in
the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and Acts 2:38, etc.
(in the name of Jesus).The will or authority
of the three individuals is exactly the same, for they are
completely in harmony and united in will. What one authorizes is
what the others authorize. What one says to do is what the others
say to do. To act by the authority (in the name of) one, then, is
to act by the authority (in the name of) all three, for it is the
same authority. It is not individuals that are the same, nor the
name "Jesus" that all wear alike, but it is the will or
authority that is the same.

An ambassador might say he acts "in the name of the
President of the U.S.A.," or he might say he acts "in
the name of the President, the Congress, and the people of the U.S.A."
The two statements are both correct, but they do not say the
President, Congress, and people are all the same individual. They
say that he acts by the authority of all three. Yet the will of
them all is viewed as one and the same will.

E. In Jesus Dwells All Fullness of the Godhead
Bodily - Colossians 2:9

It is said that all the Godhead is fully embodied in Jesus -
Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Hence, Jesus is all there is. However:

* A proper understanding requires knowing what "Godhead"
(KJV) means. Other translations say all the fullness of Deity
(NASB, RSV, NIV, etc.). "Godhead" means Deity, Godhood,
the essence or substance of God, the state or condition of being
God (see Vine, Thayer, etc.).

* Fullness means a full measure - that which completely
fills a thing. But it does not mean that no one else can
possess the fullness of that quality also. (Cf. Eph. 3:19).

For example, if I say, "In my wife dwells all the
fullness of womanhood or femininity," I would not be saying
she is the one person who possesses womanhood or
femininity, and no one else is feminine. It would mean that she
is totally and completely feminine, but it would not prove that
she is the only individual in existence who is feminine.

So Col. 2:9 means that Jesus fully and completely possesses
Deity or Godhood - the essence and nature of God. The term does
not require a single person, nor does it prove no other
individual can possess that quality.

F. The Holy Spirit Is Just a Force or Power,
not a Personal Being

The Holy Spirit, it is argued, cannot be a separate
individual, because it is not a personal being at all but just a
force.

However:

* Consider the following personal characteristics of
the Spirit.How can a non-personal force
possess these qualities?

John 16:13 - The Spirit hears.
1 Corinthians 12:8 - The Spirit gives gifts.
Acts 15:28 - He decides or determines whether or
not an act is good.
1 Corinthians 6:11 - He justifies.
Romans 15:30 - He lovesActs 5:9 - He can be tried or tested.
1 Corinthians 12:11 - He wills (power to choose).
Romans 8:27 - He has a mind.
1 Corinthians 2:11 - He knows.
Acts 5:3 - He can be lied to.
Ephesians 4:30; Isaiah 63:10 - He can be grieved.

* In addition, many Scriptures we have already cited,
list the Holy Spirit right along with the Father and the Son.He is indicated as acted with them. If the Father and Son
are living beings, surely the Spirit is just as much so. Why list
two personal beings, and then right along side list an impersonal
force?

G. The Word "Trinity" Is not in the
Bible.

"Trinity" is a word for three persons in the one
Godhead. It is argued that, if this is a true doctrine, the word
would surely be used in the Bible.

* But we have clearly established from the Bible the
truth that there is one God, but three separate and distinct
individuals in that God.The fact that a
particular word is not found, does not prove the doctrine is not
found.

You will notice that, in the present study, we have defended
our view at length, but this is the first time in the discussion
we have referred to the word "Trinity." The only reason
we refer to it now is that we are answering an objection raised
by those who disagree with our view. The word "Trinity"
is in no way essential to our belief. We can and have established
it by the Bible with no reference whatever to the word "Trinity."

* Interestingly, if you discuss long with people who
defend "Jesus only", you will soon find that they
themselves hold to churches or doctrines which they refer to by
terms not found in the Bible. Many, for example, are
members of groups called "United Pentecostal Church" or
similar names. Not only are these words not found
in the Bible, neither can they find the concept in
the Bible. Yet they criticize us because the Bible does not
contain a particular word which can be used to describe what we
believe.

Conclusion

The belief that God consists of just one individual did not
come from the Bible, nor can it be proved by the Bible. Where
then did the idea come from? Many of its adherents are members of
the United Pentecostal Church, and here is their own statement
about this:

"In the year 1914 came the revelation on the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ. The pivotal doctrines of the absolute
deity of Jesus Christ and the baptism in His name became
tenets of faith." (Foreward, United Pentecostal
Church Manual, via The Oneness Doctrine of
Pentecostalism, G. Frost, p. 3; cf. Wallace-Vaughn
Debate, p. 86)

This explains why we did not find the doctrine in the Bible -
it was not revealed until nearly 1900 years later! Why then do
these folks try to prove it by the Bible?

The Scriptures provide us to all good works (2 Tim. 3:16,17),
but this doctrine was not revealed till nearly 1900 years later.
To preach and believe it, therefore, must not be a good work.

The doctrine was revealed nearly 1900 years too late to be
part of the gospel preached by the original apostles and prophets.
Therefore, it must not be true, for they received all truth (John
16:13). Further it must be a different gospel and those who
preach it are accursed (Gal. 1:8,9). Those who teach it have
neither the Father nor the Son (2 John 9).

Note: If you would like to study further about related Bible
topics, we have a number of other study materials on our web site
that should interest you. Please see the links listed below.